Author Name: I-Love-Dogs.com
Company: I-Love-Dogs.com



10 Things in Your Home that Can Kill Your Dog
Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog's reach.

3 Common Dog Training Mistakes
There are many different approaches to dog training and many different ways of implementing each of those approaches. Most techniques utilized today however, are premised upon the idea that positive reinforcement is likely to create the best results. Virtually every truly functional dog training system is outgrowth of positive reinforcement thinking.

3 Secrets to Better Dog Training
There are virtually as many approaches to training a dog as there are dogs to train! It seems as if every day new systems and techniques are announced or older methods are resurrected. Check a bookstore shelf or do a quick internet search and you will be overwhelmed with the number of ways people may advocate training a dog.

5 Easy Steps to Stop Your Puppy From Chewing
You got your new pet almost a week ago. In that time, the little beast has eaten three pairs of shoes, four of your favorite Stephen King novels ( He left Cujo alone… Maybe he is a fan too? ), gnawed the trim around the bathroom doorway, chewed thru the power cord of your laptop and, just this morning, you found him gleefully chewing up your wallet with a side order of your credit cards.

5 Things to Avoid During Dog Training
In training your dog there are a few major downfalls that you are sure to encounter. Knowing them before you reach this point is very helpful to avoiding stressful situations later. The biggest mistake most people make is also the easiest for new trainers to fall victim to. This is the danger of expecting too much.

5 Tips for Easier Vet Visits
Taking your pet to the veterinarians’ office can be an adventure all on its own. There are so many sights, sounds, smells and other sensations that your pet can easily become quite excited or agitated to the point that control is difficult.

5 Ways to Tell That You're Not Ready to Own a Dog
If any of the following 5 statements ring true, you should re-examine your reasons for wanting a dog and your ability to properly care for one.

6 Common Dog Emergencies
Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid. But do you know what to do in a dog health emergency?

Agility Training for Dogs
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't win a fight against a fifth-grader. But did you know that for a dog agility is possibly even more important?

An Overview of the Debarking Debate
One of the most controversial subjects in the field of dog training is the question of debarking surgery. Debarking surgery is a procedure designed to minimize the volume of a dog\'s bark.

Answers to Commonly Asked Dog Questions
Here are the answers to just a few of the questions most commonly posed by dog owners.

Are Electrical Collars Effective in Dog Training?
Is the use of an electrical collar really an effective training aid? The short answer to this question is yes. Without a doubt, these tools are effective as training aids.

Being Your Dog's Leader is The Key to Training
Dogs, in their natural state, are pack animals. We tend to think of them simply as autonomous pups and don’t often consider their immutable core nature as pack animals; however, his failure to take into account the true nature of dogs can make training more difficult.

Can Guard Dogs Really Protect Me?
People want to feel protected in their homes and many feel that they can achieve this peace of mind by acquiring a dog that has been bred to guard.

Dealing With A Difficult Dog
When you brought him home, you just knew that cute little puppy was going to brighten your family’s life in many different ways! You visualized him running with the children in the backyard, curled up at your feet on a winter’s night in front of the fire, and as an always-cheerful companion for everyone in the house.

Differences in Dog Training for Hunting Dogs
As the old song said there is a time for every purpose and the same is true for training your dog. Just as different jobs require different skills and different tools, dogs used in specialized areas require specialized training.

Different Training for Different Breeds
I am certain we all remember a popular song a few years ago with the line “different strokes for different folks.” Well, the same applies to the canine world.

Different Training Techniques for Companion Dogs
Companion animals are generally kept indoors except for walks and traveling. Thus their training usually includes some form of housebreaking and a set of manners.

Dog Dental Care
Many people do not realize the importance of caring for their dog’s teeth. As dogs age, the need for dental care increases. The best way to ensure proper dental health for your dog is to start while they are very young.

Dog Obedience: The Basics
Teaching basic obedience skills to a dog can be exciting as well as challenging. Having problems on where to begin? Start by doing your homework. A student can only be as good as his trainer, right?

Field Trials for Your Sporting Dog
For those of you who aren’t too familiar with the term “field trials,” it is a sport in which the sporting dog competes under hunting conditions. The dog can pick up the scent of a rabbit or small animal and follow the trail until he’s found it.

Fur Isn't Such a Good Sunscreen
You might think the most important bit of dog health advice would be to let your furry loved on spend all day enjoying the outdoors. But you'd only be half-right. You know we must protect our children and ourselves and from the sun. But do you know that leading canine health experts now say that the most important dog health advice they can give is to protect your dog from the sun, too?

Halter Training Your Dog
One of the easiest training lessons you will ever encounter is halter training. Why is this? It is because your dog already knows the basics of how to function on a collar and leash system and walking is within their natural range of movement.

Helpful Tools for Dog Training
In the dog trainers’ arsenal of tools and tactics, there are many great items that will assist in the task and make things much easier for you. Items such as clickers, leashes of different varieties, halters, electronic collars, electronic and chemical training aids, muzzles and treat carriers all have their place in the trainers world and can prove very useful in your efforts to train your dog.

Housebreaking Your Puppy
You’re the proud owner of a new puppy. Unfortunately, you are also the not so proud owner of a soggy living room carpet. It doesn’t take long to realize this can’t keep happening. So what do you do? It might just be time to housebreak your new pet.

How to Choose a Dog Trainer
Although many dog owners successfully train their pets without outside assistance, some benefit greatly by using a professional dog trainer. A quality dog trainer can help instruct the dog while also providing the owner with invaluable guidance and assistance.

How to Choose a Hypoallergenic Dog
For people that love dogs, yet have allergic reactions to them, there is a simple alternative. If you can’t do without a four legged “friend,” choosing a hypoallergenic dog is the best alternative.

How to Decide What Training Collar to Use
Many dog owners find that their efforts toward training their pet are greatly aided by the use of a training collar. There are many types of collars available and each employs a different mechanism meant to guide your pet, restrain him or discourage bad or disobedient behavior.

How To Handle Puppy Teething Troubles
When most people bring home their cute new puppies, the furthest thing from their minds is the stressful time of teething. Just as with babies teething, puppies will want to chew on everything they can get their mouth on. This can lead to total destruction of your belongings, but there are tried and true ways to help prevent this from happening, and help you and your pup get through the teething period with ease.

How To Housebreak Your Dog
First, don't think that you are being mean to your dog by training him or her. Dogs are pack animals by nature. They need to belong to a pack. When your dog became part of your household your dog became part of your pack.

How to Improve Your Dog's Behavior Through Exercise
We’ve all heard the old saying “idle hands are the devil’s tools.” The popularity of the adage stems from its validity. Those who are not able to keep themselves busy are far more apt to fill their time with inappropriate acts. If re-written to apply to man’s best friend, the notion that “idle paws are the devil’s tools” would ring true, as well. A dog who is not sufficiently engaged in physical activity is far more likely to present behavioral challenges.

How to Keep the Peace Between Your Child and Dog
How will my dog and my new baby get along? Will I have to get rid of my loyal, furry companion in order to ensure the safety of my child? These are the questions that plague many dog owners as they anticipate the birth and homecoming of their first child.

How To Keep Your Dog Healthy And Fit
Just as with humans, one of the biggest health problems today for dogs is obesity. Many owners think their pudgy dogs are adorable, when in fact they are extremely unhealthy. Overweight dogs can develop the same kinds of problems that overweight humans can, such as diabetes mellitus, which can be very tricky to treat. Obesity can also reduce your dog’s life expectancy.

How To Keep Your Dog's Coat Looking its Best
Dogs, unlike cats, don’t sit and groom themselves by the hour. Actually, most dogs couldn’t care less about their appearance and couldn’t be happier than when they’re rolling around the ground on something stinky they’ve found.

How to Prepare Your Dog For the Boarding Kennel
It’s time to head to Las Vegas for your long awaited week of vacation. But, what do you do with THE DOG? Some people are unable to face the prospects of boarding Fido and therefore, they stay home. Others either impose on their friends or hire “pet sitters” to come into their homes. And finally, a vast number of people choose to board their pets in kennels.

How To Recognize A Dog Emergency
For many of us, when our dogs are ill, it is often quite difficult to know whether or not their condition warrants a trip to the emergency room.

How to Stop the 3 Most Annoying Dog Behaviors
As any dog owner will tell you, their pet has some habit that just irks them to no end and most likely this same trait is common amongst many of their fellow dog owners animals. There are three traits people find totally horrid that most dogs seem to find great joy in performing. In this article, we will discuss the three worst behaviors for annoyance factor and how to stop them.

How to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Common knowledge and witticism tells a person that old dogs are incapable of learning new behaviors as is often bespoken in the adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.

How To Teach Your Dog To Fetch
The time has come to have a bit of fun with your pet. You step out the door, unhook the leash and throw a tennis ball to the other end of the yard… And your dog looks up at you like you just lost your mind. What went wrong? Looks like its time to head back to the training ground for Fetch lessons.

How to Teach Your Dog to Heel
One of the first commands your dog learns should be the “HEEL” command. This command will be helpful in insuring the safety of your pet while out in public and will make you look like the owner of a well-mannered and lovable pet.

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit
Few things in life are prettier than watching a well-trained dog and one of the basic commands is the sit command. There are several methods of teaching your dog to sit. Two of the most popular are the Click and the Compulsory methods.

How to Teach Your Dog to Stop Begging
Sunday afternoon and your new wife's parents are coming to dinner. You have noticed a bit of resentment from her side of the family but this dinner is going to show them that you are indeed capable of controlling your own household.

How To Train Using Your Dogs Personality
This type of training is effective because it takes the dogs natural tendencies and just reinforces them and focuses them into proper channels. Let us now look at some of the behavior and personality traits that can be advantageous to training.

Hunting Dogs and Training Equipment
Producing a “finished” hunting dog, one that will perform the tasks of pointing out game or retrieving game, is not a simple matter. In some cases, it can take several hunting seasons and specialized training equipment to achieve the desired results.

Information On Spaying Or Neutering Your Puppy
Despite the obvious and much-documented benefits that come from the spaying and neutering America’s dog population, there are those pet owners who still harbor some reservations about the whole process. Is the necessary surgery risky? Will the dog become lethargic and fat as a result? Will the dog be depressed?

Keeping Your Dog Cool In The Summer
Summer is typically a time of great family fun and activity. The days are long and warm, the kids are on vacation, and the sun worshipers are out in full force. Unfortunately, the season also brings with it some very specific hazards - sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Not only are these hazards a threat to your human family, they can endanger the lives of your furry family members as well. As temperatures soar, your dog will need a little attention in order to ensure his safety.

Keeping Your Dog Warm in the Winter
For many dog owners, how to keep their dog warm during the cold winter is a big concern. Luckily for them, there are many ways to do this.

Leash Training Your Dog
Who else here is old enough to remember the Jetson’s cartoon show and their beloved dog, Astro? Remember how every time George took the dog for a walk, Astro ended up walking him? George was helplessly drug behind this great beast as it chased cats, food or whatever else struck the animals fancy that episode.

Making Your Home Puppy Proof
Puppies are super cute and so much fun to have around. They are filled with energy and curious about everything around them.

Medical Dogs
Over the centuries, dogs have been trained for many tasks. Native Americans used dogs to help them move their encampments. Arctic cultures trained dogs to pull sleds and to provide transportation. The military has trained war dogs since the 1940s.

Military Dog Training During World War II
During World War II, over 10,000 U.S. dogs were recruited and trained for military service as part of a program known as “Dogs for Defense.”

Negative Reinforcement Versus Positive Reinforcement Training
In this article, we shall discuss a variety of reinforcement methods used in animal training. We shall endeavor to clearly point out the pros and cons of each type and also discuss their appropriateness for given situations.

Opening a Kennel: General Tips and Guidelines
Opening a kennel is a huge undertaking, even for those who have worked in kennels before or think they know all there is to know about caring for dogs. The following tips and guidelines will help you plan for your business and will, perhaps, bring to mind things you hadn’t considered before.

Overcoming Arthritis In Dogs
Arthritis is a health problem that not only humans deal with, but so do their animals. In fact, one-fifth of dogs in the US, over the age of seven, suffer with painful DJD (degenerative joint disease) as veterinarians like to say. It is also one of the top recurring pains in dogs that they treat. Arthritis in dogs can affect their back, elbows, shoulders, hip and neck.

Problem Dogs - Dealing with a Nuisance
You love your dog, but sometimes he can be a real pain! If you know what might be causing his annoying behavior, though, you might be able to do something about it.

Puppy Mills, Pet Stores, Shelters and Breeders
There are many ways to acquire a new dog and some methods are definitely better than others. Puppy mills, pet stores, shelters and dog breeders are the most common sources of new pets for most people. Carefully examine the nature of each of these venues before buying a dog.

Pure Breed Vs. Mutts: Are There Training Differences?
The pure bred dog is something fine to look upon. It is an animal that has been refined over the centuries to reach its pure, unadulterated state today. These dogs have been bred for temper and bloodline from early times. Yet there is a dog that goes back in history even further.

Putting an End to Digging
Dogs have a natural inclination to dig holes. It is instinctive behavior, but can be extremely destructive and inappropriate for dogs that spend a great deal of time in yards. A digging dog can ruin a great landscaping job, creating both great annoyance and expense for his owner.

Raw Food Vs. Dog Food
So you’ve got a new dog and you’re wondering what to feed him. The market is full of commercial diets, and you’ve heard that some people feed their dogs raw meat. What should you do?

Rewarding Good Dog Behavior
We know the benefits of positive enforcement during training but how can we add some variety to our rewards? There are many ways to reward your pet and they vary a great deal.

Safety Tips For Traveling With Dogs
Many people get nervous when they have to travel with their pets, but traveling with your dog can be a very rewarding experience for both of you.

Should You Buy Dog Health Insurance?
Should you seriously consider buying a dog health insurance policy? Yes, you should.

Should You Join a Breed Club?
Breed clubs are national or regional organizations dedicated to specific breeds of dogs. They exist as a repository of knowledge that both the novice and experienced breeder can access.

Show Dogs: Where to Start
Thinking about showing your dog off but don’t have any idea where to start? Showing a dog is more than having a well groomed attractive dog. There is hard work and dedication on the owner’s part as well as the pet.

Socializing Your Dog to Other Dogs
You have a new bag of dog food and a bunch of new toys. You planned to take a day off work just to make this trip just as you have been planning for weeks and waiting for the pup you picked out to be weaned. You placed a deposit on the animal six months ago, long before it was even born and the day has finally come.

Socializing Your Dog With Other Pets
Socializing your pet to accept new animals into the household is not always an easy task. We all read the biblical account of Noah and his Ark and wondered just how he got the animals to survive in the ark together for five minutes let alone 40 days and nights of rain.

Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
A dog of any age can learn new tricks. Your dog should be familiar with the basics - sit, lie down, and stay, as these are excellent building blocks of new tricks.

Teach Your Dog Not to Bark
Unwanted barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is normal for dogs to vocalize and bark from time to time but many times this behavior escalates much to the frustration of many dog owners.

Ten Dog Mysteries Solved
Sometimes a dog’s behavior and actions can leave us completely baffled. This is especially true for new dog owners. So, here is a little guide to help you figure out why your dog might be doing the weird things that he does.

The 10 Biggest Mistakes Dog Trainers Make
When new trainers first get started, they tend to make a lot of mistakes in their techniques and how the approach the training process. There are a few mistakes that are fairly common among most trainers and we shall make these ten mistakes the subject of this discourse.

The Basics of Training Your Dog
As a new dog owner and trainer, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first. Do not be discouraged by this. It is quite common and shows a healthy concern for your pets well being. This being said there are a few very simple rules to remember when training your pet.

The Dirty Side of Keeping Your Dog Healthy
When most people get a dog, they think of the fun times they will have with their new furry companion. But there are many things that aren't so pleasant that we as dog owners must consider to keep our friends happy and healthy.

The Most Popular Dog Breeds for Seniors
Dogs have been making great companions for centuries now. They are loved by all ages. Everyone has their own preference as to what dog best suits their lifestyle. When choosing a dog, this is an important aspect to consider, especially for the elderly.

The Truth About Pet Insurance
Although pet insurance has been available for approximately 20 years, many pet owners have never heard of it and are surprised that such a thing would even exist. After all, insurance is for people, right? Well, if you have ever had to empty your savings account in order to pay for a pet’s surgery or if you have ever had to put a beloved pet to sleep because you couldn’t afford medical care, then you can absolutely testify to the usefulness and worth of pet insurance.

Three Tricks to Teaching Dogs Tricks
Teaching a dog a tick can be a rewarding experience for both pet and owner. It provides an opportunity for positive interaction between the dog and his trainer, which is always desirable.

Three Ways to Combat Separation Anxiety in Dogs
You leave and he howls. Not just for a moment, but seemingly forever. When the howling finally abates, it is replaced by a whine. When you return, you find your home a mess—he has engaged in destructive behavior that is completely out of character. Your dog has a real problem: separation anxiety.

Training a Show Dog
Since the beginning of time, man has always been proud of the things around him and quality was a prime concern.

Training a Working Dog
In today’s world, working dogs are a fact of life. These dogs selflessly provide a service to their masters and their communities and are rewarded with adoration and praise.

Training Dog Owners in Patience
Extensive research and experience has established the incontrovertible fact that successful dog training is premised upon utilization of positive reinforcement. Once-used training techniques that were premised on physical punishment have been abandoned—and in many cases outlawed.

Vaccinations: When, Why and What
Vaccinations are a very important part of dog ownership. Your dog should be properly vaccinated against certain diseases at certain times to help protect him and other animals he may come in to contact with. The following is an explanation of vaccinations and why they should be given.

What Is BARF?
It actually sounds kind of gross, but BARF is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. Many health conscious veterinarians are huge advocates for this diet which can completely replace commercially prepared dog food.

What Is Really In Your Dog's Food?
With the many commercially prepared dog foods available on today’s market, it is often quite difficult to tell which ones are better than others and why.

What to Expect From Adopting a Dog
When considering the birth rates among animals, it’s not hard to understand why animal shelters are always filled with animals waiting to be adopted. Shockingly, it has been calculated that over a seven year period, one female cat and her offspring will produce approximately 420,000 kittens. Likewise, one female dog and her offspring will produce 67,000 puppies during a six year period.

What to Expect When Your Dog is Expecting
Are you getting ready for your dog to have puppies? Having a litter of pups sounds like a lot of fun, but there is much work involved. Here are some tips on how to get your dog and you ready for birth.

What You Can Learn From Training Your Dog
We think of dog training in pretty simple terms most of the time. The trainer teaches, the dog learns and that’s it. We see dog training as a one-way street upon which a trainer imparts guidance to a dog.

What You Should Know About Dog Health Care
Our dogs are now, more than ever, a very important part of our families. We care for them as we care for ourselves. That includes taking a greater interest in our dogs' health care. In response, there have been many advances in dog health care in recent years.

Why Choke Collars Should be a Thing of the Past
Many of us think of the choke collar as an inevitable part of the dog training arsenal. Purchasing a choke collar may seem as natural as buying food bowls or a leash.

Why Does Your Dog Do That?
This question seems to resound around the earth among new pet owners everywhere. Thousands of people at this very moment are looking at some odd behavior and asking themselves just why is the dog doing this? Let’s look at a few of the common behaviors and see if we can understand the reasons behind them.

Why Effective Dog Training is Essential
Effective dog training is essential for both a pet’s safety and the quality of life for both dog and master. After struggling with training a dog, you may feel tempted to give up. Giving up on training an outdoor dog, for instance, can be a real temptation.

You Need a Successful Dog Training Strategy
Man and dog have been seemingly inseparable for centuries. The unique relationship between the two animals has been studied extensively as people have sought to better train their dogs as work partners and companions.

Your Attitude is Important When Dog Training
There is nothing more critical to the success of dog training than the owner’s attitude. The mindset of the trainer is more important than the equipment purchased, the exact system used, or the breed of dog involved.